Circuit and system challenges in IR wireless communication

Abstract

The burgeoning field of mobile computing has spurred the need for low-cost wireless connectivity. Both RF and IR wireless transceivers pose interesting challenges for circuit design. At present, the least expensive IR transceivers cost an order of magnitude less than their RF counterparts while still offering similar data rates. Because of low cost of IR technology, PDAs, notebook and laptop computers, even set of top box and other home appliance applications use IR at speeds up to 1Mb/s and will likely move to higher speeds in the future. There are two basic types of IR wireless transmission: 1) directed, where the transmitting device must be pointed at the receiver, and 2) diffuse, where the IR signal is emitted into a large solid angle and receiving devices collect the signal reflected off walls and ceiling, thus requiring little or pointing.